MagicGate is Sony’s copyright protection format introduced in 1999 and is now a standard feature in all cards in the Memory Stick family. MagicGate is using DRM, Digital Right Management, copyright protection technology to protect digital media, which have been purchased online, from being illegally distributed. By encrypting the content on the Memory Stick and by using MagicGate chips in both the Memory Stick and host device it enforces control over how files are distributed.

MagicGate is however only supporting copyright protection for the ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus audio compression format. The ATRAC format was developed by Sony to be employed by their MiniDisc devices. Since the ATRAC format is not as widely used as the MP3, ACC and WMA audio formats very few consumers benefit from MagicGate.

It is important to notice that the Memory Stick PRO and the Memory Stick PRO Duo can not be used to record ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus digital music files and that certain Sony digital audio players such as Network Walkmans can only accept MagicGate cards.

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